Rape tweet to MP was ‘satire’, claims Ukip leader Gerard Batten

Ukip leader Gerard Batten has described a candidate's rape tweet to MP Jess Phillips as "satire", and defended his own belief that Islam is a "death cult".

Carl Benjamin was announced as an MEP candidate for Ukip in the South West this week, with Mr Batten celebrating the decision having come after an "exhaustive process".

Mr Benjamin had previously written that "I wouldn't even rape you" to the Labour politician on Twitter.

Mr Batten defended the tweet on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, saying: "I think this was satire."

I see that people talking about if they would or wouldn't rape me has been discussed on #Marr this morning. UKIP claim it is satire to discuss my rape. I didn't see it I was eating pancakes with my sons and nephews. We are all flesh and blood.

Describing the candidate as "a classical liberal", Mr Batten said: "I don't know the exact context of that and I certainly don't condone any remarks like that but he is not a bad person as he's being portrayed.

"He is a proponent of free speech. The context that he said it was satire against the people he was saying it about. He wasn't actually making a literal statement."

Mr Benjamin – a YouTuber with a large following – sent the tweet in 2016 and Ms Phillips later said she received in excess of 600 rape threats in a night.

Just to make sure it is clear, I make no criticism of #Marr for covering and challenging UKIP on the issue, it's the right thing to do.

After Batten's defence, Ms Phillips said her husband had questioned: "Is this man satire?"

The Ukip leader was also asked whether he hates Islam, the religion he calls a "death cult".

"I do not like the ideology, the literalist interpretation of Islam," he replied.

"I know lots of people in this country who do take a literal interpretation of Islam. I think that's the worrying thing."

Just finished #Marr interview. My message is plain. In the Euro elections: if you want to Leave, Vote UKIP. If you want to Remain, Vote Lib Dem. No point in voting Tory or Labour they have no clear position. pic.twitter.com/Fm9OWAAm3o

He also defended his proposal that mosque building should be banned in the UK.

"What I have said in the past is that we should not allow planning permission for mosques until they allow planning permission in Islamic countries for churches, Hindu temples and other forms of religion."

Mr Batten took over the party last year after a tumultuous period since the departure of Nigel Farage and has appointed the activist known as Tommy Robinson as an adviser.

Mr Farage, who has formed a new Brexit Party, criticised his old stable as now being linked to "extremism, violence, criminal records and thuggery".